Manchester music icon Noel Gallagher was in tears as he paid tribute to his home city in a spine tingling finale to the Manchester Arena reopening concert.

He urged revellers to ‘keep on singing, because then we win’ as he introduced Don’t Look Back in Anger, the song that has become an anthem of the city’s resilience in the wake of the arena bombing.

Noel closed an emotional night that marks the reopening of the Arena after the May 22 terror attack in which 22 people were killed.

Emotional Noel was in tears as he performed (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Crowds celebrated Manchester's strength at the concert (Image: PA)

He said: “If anyone here ever doubted that Manchester was the greatest city in England... there was a minute’s silence and one girl broke the silence and started to sing and it’s amazing how everyone rallied around that song that I’m about to sing.

The crowd needed no more encouragement to sing along to the Oasis track word for word in emotional scenes.

Noel was earlier introduced to the stage by comedy superstar Peter Kay, and headed straight into a blistering performance of High Flying Birds track Everybody’s on the Run.

Comedian Kay had earlier made an emotional speech about his own connection with the arena, having worked as a steward before he found fame and attending its opening night back in 1995.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

(Image: London News Pictures Ltd)

Noel performed Oasis classic Half The World Away in honour of “Manchester’s favourite family - The Royle Family” to the delight of fans who swayed arm in arm to the anthem.

Oasis fans were also treated to renditions of Champagne Supernova and Little By Little, as well as Noel's solo hits including AKA - What a Life and Everybody’s on the Run.

Noel’s performance came at the close of a packed night of music at the arena, with fellow Manc bands The Courteeners and Blossoms among the many highlights.